Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-06-18
The CRAZY ENGINEER.
- -. 80 ALERWIN.


railroad found time 10 visit the little town
Of RayVilles and also confer upon il q
greater honor by bringing with him his
lovely daughter Oracle, maiden of tWen-
y. The cheer caused a young man 10
glance out Of q window Of the smoking-car.
and instantly jerking in again, he hurled 4
halt-consumed cigar away, and with rapid
steps sought the palace car, and seizinp
from a seat he had vacated a short while
before for quiet smoke, his goods and
chattela. he bounded forth upon the plat
FORM at the imminent risk Of life and
limb, for the train had already started.
The face Of the young girl grew pale al
the risk run by the young man, while her
father, the railroad President, said quickly.
You are rash, sir.
Without word but raising his hat in
reply, the young man walked into the hotel
near by, and had barely time 70 register
the name or George Coventry. California "
upon the books, when a cry from without
caused him to again 60 70 the door.
Ear away over the prairie, the express
train was lying While IN the other direc-
ton coming on like the wind, was seen a
large and very powerful locomotive.
The dispatch enginel the dispatch en-
gine!- was the cry OF the crowd, and all
eyes were turned in the direction of the
coming locomotive, while Mr.. Madison. the
President, paused as he was about TO enter
a handsome carriage, and remarking quiet
~ -Gracie, dear, must sec what dis
patches this man brings" turned and
watched the approach of the great iron
messenger.
4 Few moments MORE and the engine
stopped IN 'front.' Of the hotel, and the en-
glneer, q tall massive-built, smOke-be-
grlmed man Of about fifty, sprang to the
ground, with a small black-leather sachel
hung around his neck. as President Mad
ison heref" he asked, abruptly, as ne
glanced around him.
-Ay, ay, my man, said the President;
and, discovering him, the engineer walked
forward and handed him the bag Of dis
patches, In reading which Mr.. Madison was
soon very deeply engaged, while the bearer
stood silently by, his fiery dark eye bent
upon the railroad king with an expression
hard TO fathom.
But suddenly his gaze sought the car
rage that had been sent for Mr.. Madison,
and, falling upon the beautiful young face
OF Oracle, he started quickly, his huge
form trembled, and even through the dust
and smoke that besmeared his handsome
face, he was seen to turn almost Myid,
caused by some inward emotion awakened
IN him.
"Girl, you must come with me-hal hal
hal" he cried. wildly. And ere any one
could prevent he seized poor Oracle in his
arms, few mighty bounds and he had
reached his engine, and, with a dexterity
that was wonderful, he let on the steam
raised the brakes and away the huge loco
motive dartsd, leaving behind the two fire.
men that had accompanied the engineer,
and who had gone into the hotel for re-
freshments.
sAIy Godl He is madl He is crazy! NV
daughterl Ny poor. dear Gracie!" cried
Mr.. Madison, like every one else present,
unable to raise finger to aid the frightened
maiden
"Hal hal hal" came back the moeking
laugh OF the big engineer, as he sped
away, leaving the crowd staring wildly after
him.
as there no engine here2" suddenly cried
a commanding voice; and the young man
who had registered his name as George
Coventry rushed from the hotel door.
"Yes; the express changed engines here;
yonder IDS, cooling up for the next train,
cried q railroad official.
And away the young man rushed, to
whore the locomotive stood, sprang aboard,
hurled aside the engineer and fireman, who
would have prevented him, and the next
instant away he was flying over the broad
prairie, IN hot pursuit OF the man who had
SO boldly stolen poor Oracle Madison.
Every eye at the station was strained out
over the prairie, first at the distant speck
that denoted the fugitive locomotive, and
then at the rapidly disappearing engine
driven by brave George Coventry. On,
on they new, pursuer and pursued, the
engines groaning beneath the pressure put
upon them, and yet urged faster and faster,
for the engineer fugitive suddenly saw
that he was pursued, and recklessly did he
let on steam.
Poor Oracle, still seated where her cap
tor had placed her. but powerless to move,
watched with aching heart the every ac-
ton Of the man before her, and heard
with dread his mocking words:
"Ha, Ia, ha, Oracle Madison, revenge
has come at last, after many years; yes,
many years. Ha, Ia, hal"
"Oh, my God, he is madl" cried the I'M
happy girl and them as the shrill whistle
shrieked forth its warning notes, she
glanced ahead Of her, and deserted q sta
ton near at hand-no, twas past, for, like
a fash Of lightning, the huge engine had
gone by and left the little hamlet far be-
hind. Station after station was thus passed,
for the telegraph had flashed along the
wires to keep the road clear, for a crazy
engineer was coming, and at every place
gaping crowds stood gazing with horror at
the Wild speed at which the huge engine
was urged.
A terrific roar, a shrek OF the whistle, a
gaunt form with haggard face peering
ahead, the hutter Of a gray dress, and the
fugitive locomotive had gone by. to be fol-
lowed the moment after by another loud
vail Of the whistle, a groaning sound from
the crushing wheels, and the pursuing
engine with the stern, pale face Of George
Coventry, had also darted by at a speed
even greater than the pursued. @Oh,
heaven, have mercy2" cried the frightened
girl, and then ray OF hope came into her
face as she saw the pursuing engine COM
ing rapidly on after them.
On, on It came, each moment drawing
nearer and nearer until, with a glad cry,
Oracle recognized the man who was com
ing % her rescue as the one who had been
her 1ellOW-traYsler during the day and
had jumped SO recklessly from the moving
train.
Her cry caused the crazy engineer to
glance backward, and a hooking laugh and
bitter curse commingled upon his lips as
he deserted that hardly fifty yards now
separated the two engines. But with set
teeth and Wild glazing eyes he urged on
his iron next
station in sight, while he hurled with one
hand few Of the heaviest pieces Of coal
In the tender upon the track, In the hope
of destroying his pursuer.
Yet on they swept by the station like q
fash, and there Oracle discovered drawn
upon a switch to let them 90 by, the express
train that had taken her TO R, and
which had run one side as soon as they
learned that crazy engineer was behind
them
sun away they few, and nearer and
nearer came the pursuer until the two en-
gines were fast together. Drop down be-
hind the tender, cried the ringing voice Of
George Coventry; and, obedienly, Oracle
shrunk down int the bottom Of the engine,
while the wild, harsh laugh of the crazy
engineer rang cut 90 mingle the next in
slant With the sharp reports Of pistol. ~
shot after shot was fired. until half a dozen
leaden messengers had been hurled after
the mad engineer, who, with low groan,
sank down lifeless beside the frightened
girl, for q bullet from George Coventry
pistol had pierced his brain